Internet protocol assists using multi-path channel protocol

Abstract

A method of allowing any initiating host to establish communications with any receiving host in a computing network using a Multi-path channel communication protocol. The computing environment also having a gateway device that is electronically connected from one end to at least one initiating host and at the other end to at least one local area network through which a plurality of hosts are connected to the gateway device. The method comprise the steps of first performing an initialization step during information and addresses of all present hosts are determined and stored in a port-sharing table which is kept up to date by regular monitoring of availability status. All host communications is performed entirely through the gateway device. Upon the receipt of a special IP address certain information is obtained from the datagram. Then the address and information of the initiating host is compared to the entries in the portsharing table and if no match is found a new entry is made. All necessary information for the establishment of a successful communication between the two hosts are then provided to the initiating host.

We claim: 
     
       1. In a computing network environment having a gateway device, said gateway device being electronically connected to at least one initiating host and at least one local area network through which a plurality of hosts are connected to said gateway device, said computing network environment using a Multi-path channel communication protocol, a method of allowing any initiating host to establish conmmunications with any receiving host, said method comprising steps of: performing an initialization step during which using handshaking techniques addresses for hosts electronically connected to said gateway device are determined;   forming a port-sharing table and storing said table in a memory location accessible to said gateway device;   checking at preselected intervals to determine whether connections with said hosts are still active and available;   making necessary changes in said port-sharing table to reflect if any of said connections with said hosts are no longer active or available;   controlling routing of host communications through said gateway device;   upon receipt of a special command issued upon a request from an initiating host to establish communications with a receiving host of said at least one area network, first checking to see if said initiating host is an existing host or a newly attached host by comparing said initiating host's address and information against entries in said poit-sharing table;   adding address and information of said initiating host to said port-sharing table when no match is found amongst said entries in said port-sharing table;   obtaining a local area network number as well as a maximum transmission unit size from an IP datagram provided by said initiating host;   providing to said initiating host a local area network type and maximum transmission unit size from said port-sharing table;   providing said initiating host any MAC addresses needed in order to establish a successful comnmunication between said initiating host and said receiving host through said at least one local area network;   wherein said at least one local area network comprises a plurality of local area networks comprising different types and device specifications;   wherein a special bind command can be issued to determine which local area network types are supported by said computing network environment; said special bind command identifying associated frame types to establish a successful communication; and   wherein a subsequent bind command can be issued to specify additional information used in determining any servers available on said computing network environment.   
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1, wherein said special command is an IPX address command. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 2, wherein said SET IPX ADDRESS command is issued every time a first initiating host is communicating with a first receiving host. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim 2, wherein said SET IPX ADDRESS command is issued when a first initiating host communicates with a first receiving host. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim 1, wherein an appropriate media header can be constructed by said gateway device by using said port-sharing table; and said apropriate media header being further provided to said initiating host so that successful communication can be established between said initiating host and said receiving host.   
     
     
       6. The method of claim 1, wherein said local area network's type of port and network number are provided by said initiating host to accomplish said special bind command, further comprising a step of further associating a frame type to said communication platform local area network. 
     
     
       7. The method of claim 1, wherein said subsequent bind command can contain information about service advertising protocol or SAP. 
     
     
       8. The method of claim 1, wherein an unbind command can be used for command termination or shutdown. 
     
     
       9. The method of claim 1, wherein said special IP Address command is a SET IPX ADDRESS command. 
     
     
       10. The method of claim 1, wherein said communication platform is an open system adapter platform. 
     
     
       11. The method of claim 1, wherein said computing environment uses VTAM communication protocol. 
     
     
       12. The method of claim 1, wherein said computing network environment uses VTAM communication protocol. 
     
     
       13. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one local area network comprises a plurality of local area networks. 
     
     
       14. The method of claim 17, wherein said plurality of local area networks each are of different type and associated with them different and independent communication platforms. 
     
     
       15. The method of claim 1, wherein said gateway device uses a LAN Channel Station Communication Protocol. 
     
     
       16. The method of claim 1, wherein said computing network environment uses Novell IPX communication protocol. 
     
     
       17. In a computing network environment having a gateway device, said gateway device being electronically connected to at least one initiating host and at least one local area network through which a plurality of hosts are connected to said gateway device, said computing network environment using a Multi-path channel communication protocol, a method of allowing any initiating host to establish communications with any receiving host, said method comprising steps of: performing an initialization step during which using handshaking techniques addresses for hosts electronically connected to said gateway device are determined;   forming a port-sharing table and storing said table in a memory location accessible to said gateway device;   checking at preselected intervals to determine whether connections with said hosts are still active and available;   making necessary changes in said port-sharing table to reflect if any of said connections with said hosts are no longer active or available;   controlling routing of host communications through said gateway device;   upon receipt of a special command issued upon a request from an initiating host to establish communications with a receiving host of said at least one area network, first checking to see if said initiating host is an existing host or a newly attached host by comparing said initiating host's address and information against entries in said port-sharing table;   adding address and information of said initiating host to said port-sharing table when no match is found amongst said entries in said port-sharing table;   obtaining a local area network number as well as a maximum transmission unit size from an IP datagram provided by said initiating host;   providing to said initiating host a local area network type and maximum transmission unit size from said port-sharing table;   providing said initiating host any MAC addresses needed in order to establish a successful communication between said initiating host and said receiving host through said at least one local area network;   wherein said at least one local area network comprises a plurality of local area networks comprising different types and device specifications; and   wherein an IPXBINDNET command can be used for passing Network numbers associated with a stack to said initiating host before successful communication is established.